Egg case



Spt. 23. 1924. 1,509,710

C. W. CHAMBERS EGG CASE Filed llqrch 5. 19 23 2 Sheets-Shae. 1

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Sept. 23 1924.

c. w. CHAMBERS EGG CASE Filed March 5, 1923 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Mar/6's 1/ b'zmzfielii l NVENTOR BY 0 o WITNESS:

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITE STTES CHARLES W. CHAMBERS, O13 VANOSS, OKLAHOMA.

EGG CASE.

Application filed March 5, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. CHAM- nnus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vanoss, in the county of Pontotoc and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Egg Cases, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a container for eggs or other products and especially of large capacity, so constructed of metallic folding elements that it may be returned to the shipper in knock-down condition, the foldable walls of the case being connected by certain novel securing means hereinafter specified.

A further object is to provide a case or crate the walls of which are reinforced by devices forming a part of the hinge, the case including a top having a downwardly extending flange, and means being provided which automatically lock the side and end walls when they are moved to a position perpendicular with reference to the bottom.

A still further object is to provide a particular form of resilient fastener which will cooperate with the flanged edge of the cover in retaining the end and side walls of the case.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the egg case; Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section; Figure 3 is a horizontal section; Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section; Figures 5 and 6 show pivoted and rigidly mounted resilient catches of wedgelike form; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the case in knock-down condition; Figure 8 is a detail of a modification in which the vertical walls are hinged to a flange formed on the bottom.

The bottom of the case is designated 10 and all portions of the device are preferably formed of galvanized iron or thin metal such as sheet steel. End walls 11 and 19 are hingedly connected with the bottom and front and rear walls 13 and 14: are similarly connected, the rolled portions of the hinges being formed in all cases by rolling the edges of the metal sheets, as shown at 15, and the pintle 16 of the head or hinges Serial N0. 622,982.

comprises a heavy wire or rod which constitutes a reinforcing frame member, so that the lower portion of the case is effectively braced by a frame of rectangular form.

A partition wall 18-is hinged at 19, and securing devices 20 retain this wall in position when the case is ready for shipping. Handles, such as 21, serve an obvious purpose.

The cover is hinged at 25, the hinge connection being similar to that already described, and a flange 26 is formed at the edge of the cover and is designed to project down over the vertical walls. Hasps 27, cooperate with loops or the like 28, and split rings 29 pass through the loops and act as securing devices.

The front and rear walls are provided with devices 30, spaced from the flanges 31 of the walls, and provided with an inclined surface, so that the end walls upon being raised to vertical position, will ride over the inclined walls, and enter the space 32 but not pass beyond that position, on account of striking the projecting flange 31 extending outwardly a suflicient distance to prevent further movement, and acting to permit of this operation and result.

The device 30 includes loops or rolled portions providing openings 33 permitting of engagement by hooks 3- it being observed that the walls will remain in vertical position prior to efiecting engagement by the hooks.

Pivotally mounted snap fasteners 35 of wedge like form are connected with the edges of the end walls, and each fastener includes a plate portion through which the pivot 36 passes, and a blade 37 having a beveled portion 38 and an offset 39. The entire fastener is made of resilient material and snaps through a slot at 40, the slots being provided in the front of the rear walls at the points shown. The pivotal mount permits the fasteners to be moved back out of the way, when desired, and the edge flanges of the cover directly co operate with the snap fasteners in retaining the vertical walls, and accidental pressure on any fastener will not release the adjacent walls, so long as the cover remains closed. However, the finger members 42 of the fasteners are manipulated from the inner side of the case, and the devices are not readily released from the outside by accidental pressure on the beveled portion. If the front and rear walls are raised to vertical position first, and then the end walls, so that the securing devices first described will operate automatically, then the front and rear walls are lightly held and allowed to flare outwardly, to a slight extent, so that the snap fasteners may move to a position opposite the slots, at which time inward pressure on the front and rear walls produces the desired engagement of the fasteners. lVhen preferred, the case may be constructed by providing snap fasteners alone, at the corner portions, it being understood that fastenings will be provided for the cover, in anyevent.

In the detail view designated Figure 6, the snap fastener is rigidly mounted on one of the end walls, instead of being piv otally mounted.

In Figure 8 the bottom 5 includes the downwardly extending flange 6 and the upwardly extending portion 7 having a rolled part 8 for cooperation With a similar rolled portion 9 of the main wall of the casing. This deeper bottom facilitates the folding of the side and end walls when the device is collapsed.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the class described, a bottom, front, rear and end walls, hinged connections between the bottom wall and the remaining walls, hooks mounted on some of the walls and devices to be engaged by the hooks and including rolled portions and inclined portions for sliding engagen'ient by the edges of the adjacent walls, and resilient fastening devices connected with the end walls and including offset portions, the front and rear walls having slots through which the resilient devices pass, permitting engagement by the offsets when the end walls have been raised to a position where the edges clear the inclined portions of the hook engaging devices.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES W. CHAMBERS. 

